A nonlinear analytical model for the squeeze-film dynamics of parallel plates subjected to axial flow

In this paper, we develop a theoretical model to predict the nonlinear fluid–structure interaction forces and the dynamics of parallel vibrating plates subjected to an axial gap flow. The gap is assumed small, when compared to the plate dimensions, the plate width being much larger than the length, so that the simplifying assumptions of 1D bulk-flow models are adequate. We thus develop a simplified theoretical squeeze-film formulation, which includes both the distributed and singular dissipative flow terms. This model is suitable for performing effective time-domain numerical simulations of vibrating systems which are coupled by the nonlinear unsteady flow forces, for instance the vibro-impact dynamics of plates with fluid gap interfaces. A linearized version of the flow model is also presented and discussed, which is appropriate for studying the complex modes and linear stability of flow/structure coupled systems as a function of the average axial gap velocity. Two applications of our formulation are presented: (1) first we study how an axial flow modifies the rigid-body motion of immersed plates falling under gravity; (2) then we compute the dynamical behavior of an immersed oscillating plate as a function of the axial gap flow velocity. Linear stability plots of oscillating plates are shown, as a function of the average fluid gap and of the axial flow velocity, for various scenarios of the loss terms. These results highlight the conditions leading to either the divergence or flutter instabilities. Numerical simulations of the nonlinear flow/structure dynamical responses are also presented, for both stable and unstable regimes. This work is of interest to a large body of real-life problems, for instance the dynamics of nuclear spent fuel racks immersed in a pool when subjected to seismic excitations, or the self-excited vibro-impact motions of valve-like components under axial flows.